Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that three states have made significant progress in setting up their own affordable health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges. The District of Columbia, Kentucky, and New York are conditionally approved to operate a State-based Exchange, which means they are on track to run the marketplace in 2014.

Today's conditional approvals follow the same type of approvals provided to Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington earlier in the week.

"I applaud these states' commitment in achieving this milestone and moving forward to build a marketplace," Secretary Sebelius said. "Each of these states has made significant progress, and in ten months will be ready for open enrollment where individuals will be able to purchase private health insurance plans."

Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses will have access to a new marketplace starting in 2014 where they can access quality, affordable private health insurance. These are similar to those choices that will be offered to members of Congress.

Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces and may be eligible for tax credits to help pay for their health insurance.